Jessica Hume, National Bureau

OTTAWA -- The justice minister says the government will move as "expeditiously as possible" to replace Marc Nadon as their pick for next Quebec judge on the Supreme Court.

Nadon indicated to one media outlet Tuesday that he wouldn't apply to the Quebec bar - a loophole left open in the Supreme Court's decision Friday in which Nadon was deemed ineligible because he wasn't a member of the Quebec bar at the time of his nomination.

Justice Minister Peter Mackay said that decision was a personal one for Nadon, then extoled Nadon's talents and experience in Quebec.

"We intend to move as expeditiously as possible to ensure that the Supreme Court of Canada has a full complement of judges," MacKay told reporters following question period.